Ice skate

Abstract

A unitary molded plastic blade support and metal blade is provided for an ice skate. The support includes an upper portion provided with heel and sole platforms to receive the heel and sole of a boot, and a runner portion embedding and anchoring a metal blade partially exposed. The blade has a central section and adjacent front and rear sections. A plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart anchoring projections are provided at least on the front and rear sections of the blade and integral with the blade. The keying projections extend inwardly towards the central section to form anchoring hooks engaged in the molded plastic.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of forming a skate blade and unitary plastic molded support for use with an ice skate, including the steps of providing a mold, locating a metal blade having a central section and front and rear sections with the front and rear sections at least having hook-like projections directed inwardly towards the central section of the blade, injecting hot thermoplastic material into the mold such that it flows about the top area of the skate blade and around the inwardly extending hook projections, cooling the central section of the mold adjacent the central section of the blade while maintaining higher temperatures at the front and rear sections of the blade and mold such that the central section of the plastics material will cool faster than the outer section thereby directing the contraction of the plastics material towards the central section as the front and rear sections are cooled, such that the flow of the plastics material flows around the inwardly directed hook so that the hook will engage in the plastics material after it is cooled. 
     
     
       2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the central section of the mold is cooled to 50° F. and the front and rear sections of the mold are maintained at 200° F.